Improvement in fare-boxes



A. G. GGUJJELL, Jr.

fare-Boxes.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ABNER G. GOODELL, JR., OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPRovEMENT IN FARE-Boxes.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. l 53,181, dated July 28, 1874; application tiled April 28, 1874.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ABNER C. GooDELL, Jr., of Salem, Essex county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Fare Boxes, of which the following is a specification lWIy invention relates to the construction of the movable partition which usually intervenes between the upper and lower compartments of a fare-box, the object of this construction being to prevent access being had through this partition to the fares in the lower fare-receiving compartments, while at the same time the fares are permitted a free and unobstructed descent into this compartment. I also combine with this movable partition or gate a gong or bell, located in said lower compartment, and operated substantially as hereinafter described.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure I, a vertical and transverse section, in Fig. 2 a vertical and longitudinal section, and in Fiv. 3 a plan, of my invention, the upper or display chamber being removed.

In these drawings, A represents the case of the structure, which is composed of an upright oblon g box, contracted to a considerable extent at about its center, as shown at B, this contraction or throat being provided with a gate, C, which will drop and close the throat if the box is inverted, and thus frustrate dishonest attempts to return money or tickets to the chamber A2. Upon the top of the ease A, and over and about an aperture, D, created therein, I erect an inverted globular cap or receiveror dome, E, in which is created a slot or opening, F, through which fares are to be inserted, this receiver being constructed of glass, and constituting the preliminary or auxiliary compartment to receive the fares as they are deposited by passengers through the opening F. Within this receiver E I place two plates, b c, each of which is placed at an angle of about forty-ve degrees, the two approaching each other so nearly as to create a narrow passage or throat, d, between them, and being arranged, with respect to passage F, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Immediately below the receiver E, and within the upper part, a2, of the case A, I dispose achangeable or movable shelf' or division, G, which in this particular instance is composed of a horizontal triangular prism,H, provided at each end with a journal, I I f, which is mounted within apswinging boX or ring-bearing, J, making part of a horizontal rod, K,

rear journal I of this prism is extended through the rear wall of the case A, and provided with a knob, a, by means of which the driver is enabled to readily rotate the gate. By seizing the knob a, and partially turning the gate on its journal, its faces are presented alternately in succession to the underside or mouth of the receiver or compartment E, and at each intermittent movement thus effected the face last in contact with said receiver falls away from and partially opens the latter, and constitutes au inclined plane, down which the fare descends, and is precipitated into the lower part of the case or compartment A, where it remains, with others which may accumulate, until removed by a person properly authorized to do so. It will be observed that the form and disposition of the gate Gr and its relation to the mouth of the receiver E is such as to preserve at all times an indirect or tortuous channel between the two compartments, and constitute an obstruction to prevent introduction of a wire or instrument into the case or compartment A, through the mouth of said receiver E, in the attempt to dishonestly abstract the contents of the latter. The walls of the case A converge below the gate G, and are of such configuration as to assimilate closely to a path described by the revolution of the gate, in order to aid in maintaining an indirect channel or communication between the compartments E and A. The gong, to which allusion has been made as constituting one element in these improvements, is shown at K, as placed in the lower rear part of the ease A, while over this gong is disposed an upright rod, L, sliding within suitable guides, and depressed by a spring, f, nearly in contact with the gono'. Upon the upper part of the rear Wall of the case A, I pivot an inverted bell-crank lever, M, the horizontal arm g of Which is pivoted by a pinands1ot connection with the rod L, while the upright arm h of' this lever rises to such a height as to intercept the prsmatic gate G when the latter is partially rotated in the act of discharging a fare from the receiver E; consequently, with each partial rotation of the gate to the extent of one of its faces, a signal is sounded, which informs each passenger that his fare has been recognized by the driver, and precipitated into the lower compartment. The form of the gate G may be somewhat varied Without departure from my invention. The transparent dome or display-chamber E is to be so disposed with respectto the driver and the passengers as to be visbleto both, and enable both to readily distinguish the amount and character of the fares disposed Within it.

I claim- 1. The prismatic or r`nany-sided tilting' or rotary gate, for closing the passage -between the upper and lower compartments of the fare-box, mounted in yielding bearings or supports, and adapted to operate substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The combination, in the fare-box, with the prismatic gate G, of the gong or signal and the sliding rod, spring, and angle lever, actuated by said gate to eli'ect the sounding of' the signal, substantially in the manner shown and set forth.

ABNER C. GOODELL, JR.

Vitnesses:

FRED. CURTIS, W. fE. BOARDMAN. 

